UK begins new shale gas onshore licensing round

The UK Government has started an onshore licensing round for the first time in six years for companies looking to explore shale gas reserves in the country.

The move by the government aims to reduce the dependence on energy imports. It follows the declining production of natural gas in the North Sea and the successful implementation of shale gas for energy use in the US.

The UK has 26 trillion cubic feet of shale gas deposits according to US Energy Information Administration data.

UK business and energy minister Matthew Hancock said: "Unlocking shale gas in the UK has the potential to provide us with greater energy security, jobs and growth. We must act carefully, minimising risks, to explore how much of our large resource can be recovered to give the UK a new home-grown source of energy. As one of the cleanest fossil fuels, shale gas can be a key part of the UK’s answer to climate change and a bridge to a much greener future."

The licences will allow companies to start drilling, although they must first get planning permission and approval from the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive, as the government strives to safeguard areas of outstanding natural beauty, world heritage sites and national parks.

UK communities minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said: "Effective exploration and testing of the UK’s unconventional gas resources is key to understanding the potential for this industry, so the government is creating the right framework to accelerate unconventional oil and gas development in a responsible and sustainable way. We recognise there are areas of outstanding landscape and scenic beauty where the environmental and heritage qualities need to be carefully balanced against the benefits of oil and gas from unconventional hydrocarbons."

The government will consider planning appeals for the next 12 months to ensure that environmental guidance is being applied.